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A 16-year-old boy died in a Palos Verdes Estates neighborhood after falling off his skateboard while performing a maneuver that's commonly referred to as “skitching," reports the L.A. Times.
Sandro McIlroy of Manhattan Beach was riding his skateboard on Friday night in the 500 block of Epping Road when he clung onto the passenger door of a passing Jeep, which was traveling at about 10 m.p.h., say Palos Verdes Estates police. He glided along with the vehicle, then attempted to move towards the back of the Jeep. He was holding onto the back when he lost control, fell off, and sustained severe head injuries. According to ABC7 he hit his head on the outer rear tire of the Jeep. Police say he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident, reports New York Daily News.
The driver and two passengers in the Jeep contacted 911 when they realized that McIlroy was injured. McIlroy was taken to a hospital, where he died hours after the incident.
A surf club he was associated with—South Bay Boardriders Club—posted a tribute to him on Facebook (above).
LAist called the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department to ask if there was any relationship between McIlroy and the driver and passengers of the Jeep. No one was immediately available for comment.
[Update: 12:04 p.m.]
Sergeant Steve Barber of the Palos Verdes Estate Police Department told LAist that the driver and two passengers in the Jeep were friends of McIlroy.
